A Cold Day In Hell: The Korean War and the American POW Experience
All Library locations will be closed on Monday, May 30, for Memorial Day.
Lieutenant Colonel (retired) William Latham discusses the treatment of American prisoners of war during and after the Korean War on Tuesday, September 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St.
September 2, 2008, is the 55th anniversary of the release of U.S. military prisoners of war, following the cessation of hostilities in the Korean War.
Latham, an assistant professor of Force Projection at the U.S. Army’s Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, is currently writing a book tentatively titled A Cold Day in Hell: The Korean War and the American POW Experience.
Of the 7,245 Americans captured during the Korean War, 2,806 died in captivity. Survivors overcame starvation, malnutrition, extreme weather conditions, physical torture and mental abuse at the hands of their captors. Twenty-one American POWs chose to remain in China rather than repatriate, perpetuating the rumor according to Latham, of Chinese brainwashing.
In A Cold Day in Hell, Latham examines the deadly ordeal of captivity, the deliberate manipulation of prisoners for propaganda purposes, and the allegations of misconduct during captivity that overshadowed the repatriation of many American POWs. The book is the product of Latham’s own research and interviews with more than two dozen former POWs.
Admission is free. Complete the form below or call 816.701.3407 to indicate your interest in attending. Free parking is available in the Library District Parking Garage at 10th and Baltimore.